Downstairs Bathroom

Hello 2016! You may think that we fell off of the face of the Earth, however, we have just been big time blog slackers the last couple of years. Even though we haven't posted there has been lots of progress on our house in 2014 and 2015 and we are looking forward to a productive 2016! It is our goal to make at least one blog post per month this year, so let's jump right in to a project that we finished in 2014...

Our house has one bathroom downstairs that was down right horrendous when we moved in...


Eeeeek!!!
 

This lovely bathroom had it all: seashell sink, painted cast iron tub w/ only two feet, velvety curtains, faux finished sconces, gold AND silver colored hardware, and wallpaper boarder just like at Nana's... (yikes!). Rick refinished the antique cast iron bathtub a couple of years ago, and is the only thing that we kept in the bathroom... Everything else had to go ....

MB Eye Candy: Episode 3 - 99% MB Reveal

I could continue to drag things out by focusing on each little piece of the reconstruction process, or I could continue to go on small tirades about how old rehab projects creep along like cold molasses. However, I will not do that! I have a finished room and you gotta see it! 

MB Eye Candy: Episode 2 - Double Hung Restoration

So happy with the double hung windows after I restored them. It was a lot of work, but worth it. Old windows were made to last.. and hopefully these will stay intact for another 100 years. We've got outdoor storm windows that helped keep the original windows from totally rotting out over the years of neglect, but some were still pretty messed up. 

MB Eye Candy: Episode 1 - The Reddish Golden Pine

We have a blog!!?? Oh yeah I forgot..... Lots has happened since last post... We finished the WHOLE HOUSE!! 

Various Muds

Mortar Mud and Plaster Mud.. Yay!

Patches and Rabbit Holes

Hey Everybody!
I guess I owe you guys a post! I need to get back into the habit..
I am of the opinion not to post until I get something completely finished, which is harder than it sounds.
Since projects in old houses tend to balloon into 5+ other projects.. everything seems to rely on the next! IT NEVER ENDS!!

Happy Holidays!!

Hi Everyone! I hope that 2012 is wrapping up (pun intended!) well for you! Christmas time is one of those phenomenons that brings out the good, the bad, and the ugly in people. Hope for you that it is more good than bad or ugly.  Rick and I finally finished up Christmas shopping today, Christmas Eve Eve, aka, Festivus.  We are about to sit down to our Festivus meal and laugh about all the ways we were disappointed this year a la Kramer and Frank Costanza.

Mini Project: Flower Box

Had lots of extra lathe.....

Corner From Hell

Hey peeps! Long time no post! So... it has been a while since I've posted anything. 

I have really good excuses reasons for lagging on the posts!

1) Switched Jobs

2) Got Hitched

3) Computer Broke

Told you!

This Is Fun.

"This is Fun."

Written: 1911

Found: 2012

Turn of the century graffiti or a child at play? 

You decide.

Link: Nightmares XXVI

I love these articles on TOH.com. I've found some dumb things in our house, but nothing really like these DIY goofs. Enjoy the link.

Home Inspection Nightmares XXVI

Christmas Break?

Who said anything about taking a break!! Last year about this time, I was hunkered down in the dirt under the house. I was able to get a jump start on the huge foundation project during that years break. The dungeon project took me a long long time to almost complete.... yes, there is still more that needs to be done down there. Now, lets not waste time on renovation memory lane fretting about what is in the past, under the house, and in the dark. Lets look ahead to new possibilities and, most importantly, the aftermath of the current "Christmas no-break."

This is the look we are always going for...
Very Dilapidated Crack House -ish

Coal Dust & Electricity

I can't imagine a time where entire cities ran on coal. All the steam boilers, smelters, and fireplaces being shoveled full of this burning black rock. Everything, everywhere all dusty and sooty. The city still essentially runs on coal, it is just burned in a central location far away where no one has to think about it and piped in as nice clean electricity. Anyway, to my point.. Old houses used coal fireplaces for warmth. That translates into today as lots of coal dust and soot pouring out of all the demo areas. I've got the upstairs quarantined pretty well, so fortunately it isn't an issue. I just had hoped that I would be rid of the stuff once I finished wallowing in it under the house. Guess not.

Buzzsaws great grandpa was a coal dog

Balloon!!!

As I was losing myself in demolition and thoughts of how I was going to go about finishing everything, I hit a major road block. This old house is balloon framed! When we bought this place I knew that there was a chance it was indeed balloon framed, but didn't see any obvious signs. I was hopeful it wasn't because they started moving to platform framing around the time the house was built.

Balloon framing...

Everybody Loves Destruction!

The upstairs demo is moving right along. I've gotten over the self leveler on the floor problem and moved on to other things. As the demo progresses, I just keep finding more and more goofy "fixes" or unskilled DIY projects from the previous tenants. Hopefully it is truly unskilled DIY and not actual contractors that did this... If you hire a contractor, make sure to get references and actually have some concept of what work they will be doing, what steps they need to take, and how the finished product is supposed to look. Anyway, I snapped some pics of the overall demo so far and some things that I've run into.

The Layer Game

Upstairs is officially under quarantine! 

Mini Projects: Chair and Fence

Hey my peoples!!

I've been tinkering around with some mini projects as an excuse to play with the router. I do have an ulterior motive for the mini projects though. It gives me more time to build up my tool infrastructure in preparation for the upcoming big upstairs renovation. I've still got to build a big router table and table saw setup for all the finish work that we will be doing up there. If I had my way and lots of time, I would build the furniture also. I am still leaning toward building the vanity and built in cabinets though.. we'll see. Anyway... On to the mini project pictures!!!!

Mini Project: Old Vigorelli Sewing Table

       We picked this old sewing table up a while back at a local thrift store in an inexpensive attempt to furnish our empty house.  I think it originated some time back in the 60's or 70's judging from the lima bean inspired color of the sewing machine.  Vigorelli was (perhaps still is?) an Italian sewing machine manufacturer that made machines for heavy duty materials.  Unfortunately the sewing machine on our table made a better door stop than a sewing machine. So off went the machine and now we have a charming little entry way table! Check out our handy work on this cutie! 

Before

Title Bout

I know most of what I've been blogging about lately is boring old foundation stuff.. but there is hope!

Quickie - Dr. Miles Restorative Nervine

"... for nervousness or nervous exhaustion, sleeplessness, hysteria, headache, neuralgia, backache, pain, epilepsy, spasms, fits and St. Vidus' dance."

                                                                           ~ from Dr. Miles Restorative Nervine label